Both the Sky View Bobcats and the Woods Cross Wildcats won state championship games Saturday night at West High School. The only unfortunate sidenote, however, was that it wasn't the same game.
The Bobcats put away Woods Cross easily in the championship match 15-1, 15-1 before a packed house for the 4A state crown. Woods Cross' loss was a bitter aftertaste after its thrilling 12-15, 15-7, 15-10 win over top-ranked Spanish Fork in the semifinal, that ended up as the upset of the day."We were emotionally ready for that game (with Spanish Fork)," Wildcat coach Donna Tippets said. "But the amount of time it took to start the final threw us off."
One player who was anything but off was Bobcat senior Mari Burningham who set the dominant pace for her teammates, capping off an electric tournament performance over four games.
"Burningham could do no wrong," Tippets said. "We thought we could get the angle block on her but she ended up hitting the corner each time."
The Wildcats managed one service point in each game but kept failing to capitalize on sideouts against the stubborn Sky View front line.
"We went to Mari, she was unstoppable," Sky View coach Calvin Jensen said. "The team had great performances all around."
Sky View coasted to a 12-0 lead in the final game before Woods Cross' Nicole Geddes put up a single point. But the Bobcats had built far too much momentum by that point, steered by Burningham's 14 kills on the night.
"I think she dominated the whole night," Tippets added. "They definitely deserve to win it all."
Other state playoff matches went as follows:
Spanish Fork def. Mountain Crest 15-12, 15-5
After a disappointing loss to Woods Cross in the semifinal, the Dons bounced back with the finesse service of Kelly Christensen. Spanish Fork's Val Childs also rebounded from a sprained ankle in the earlier game to help the Dons finish third in the tournament.
Logan def. Provo 15-17, 15-6, 15-12
The Grizzlies spoiled Provo's first game thriller with rebound wins in the final rounds for a fifth-place finish in state. Heather Allen and Carrie Tuescher built up Logan's strength at the net to put away the smaller Bulldogs who ended in seventh in tourney play.
East def. Olympus 16-14, 15-13
Region 7 rivals East and Oly teamed up again in a heartbreak loss for the Titans. Faye Kuma and Charlotte Norman charged up the Leopards for their first win against Oly in three games this year, giving them a sixth-place finish in state.